The development of next generation batteries is a key factor for the successful introduction to the market of electric vehicles, urgently needed to achieve mandatory emission targets for greenhouse gases and pollutants. To secure the competitiveness of the automotive industry, the European Commission has started a comprehensive initiative for the setup of battery cell production in Europe. The session presents SWOT-analyses of existing and future battery cells and other components, their integration into stacks and into the vehicle as well looking at the international cooperation needed for such a breakthrough in electromobility.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AVL List GmbH, Graz

Joined AVL, a company for design and development of internal combustion engines, founded by his father in 1948

1967

Graduation in mechanical engineering at the Graz University of Technology, Graz; Head of blood gas analysers development project, in cooperation with Prof. Karl Harnoncourt

1969

Responsible for the production of electronic and precision instruments and prototype engines; Introduction of product management, better market orientation of product development and set up of a network of representatives in import and export markets

1970

Vice President AVL - Head of Instrumentation Division

since 1979

Chairman and CEO, AVL List GmbH

1984-1986

President, Austrian Physical Society

since 1992

Honorary Consul, Republic of Korea for Styria; Chairman, Research and Technology Committee, Federation of Austrian Industry

1994-1997

Member, IRDAC Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee for the EU, Brussels

1994-2003

Board of Directors, VOEST Alpine Technologies

1995

Elected Fellow, SAE Society of Automotive Engineers

1997-1998

Chairman, IRDAC Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee, Brussels

1998-2002

Member, EAG European Advisory Group "Land transport and marine technology"

Jean-Baptiste Pernot is Vice-President Transformation & Operation Excellence for Saft Group. His responsibilities cover the management of several corporate functions (EHS, industrialization, purchasing, IT, lean & continuous improvement) as well as the leadership of Saft global transformation plan. He is also in charge of few strategic projects & partnerships such as the European Alliance for the battery of the future. Before occupying this position, he worked for Sagem, Alstom and Areva groups at various positions (as sales manager, plant director, regional VP) and spent 10 years of his working life based in China. Jean-Baptiste Pernot is graduated from Centrale Paris engineering school as well as from ESSEC business school. He is French, living in Paris, married and with two children

Carl Rosén is Director General at the Ministry of Innovation and Enterprise. He is responsible for innovation and research policy, state owned enterprises and policy analysis. He is the former CEO of the global network ICGN and the Swedish Shareholder Association. Carl Rosén has investment banking experience from Europe and Silicon Valley. In asset management he was part of top management at State pension Fund AP2. He is the founder of the proxy services firm NIS and has served as editor-in-chief at the business weekly Affärsvärlden. Carl Rosén has been portrayed in Financial Times twice; he has been a regular commentator on TV, including CNN. He has a B.Sc. from Stockholm School of Economics and is an enthusiastic triathlete and historic rally driver.

Member of the Cabinet of Vice-President Maros Sefčovič, European Commission, Brussels

Manuel completed his postgraduate studies with University Paris-Dauphine (master degree in economics/finance/energy - 1997), Science Po Paris (public administration - 1998) and the College of Europe in Bruges (EU political and governance studies - 1999). He had previously studied in London, Barcelona and Reims.

Before joining the European Commission, Manuel Szapiro worked as a senior lecturer with the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht, and an international adviser to Business Europe in Brussels.

Manuel Szapiro joined the European Commission in 2003 as member of "Task force for the future of the EU", placed under the authority of the European Commission President. In the European Commission he has had a number of assignments, ranging from policy development / coordination and inter-institutional negotiations (Secretariat-General), political reporting and communication (Commission office in Spain), and financial management and strategic planning (European Joint Undertaking for ITER).

Mr. Manuel Szapiro is member of the private office or cabinet of European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefčovič, in charge of the Energy Union. Before that, he was in charge of the institutional team in the European Commission's Secretariat-General.

Other professional activities: since 2006 Manuel Szapiro is a visiting professor at the College of Europe in Bruges and former 'maître de conférences' and director of studies in Sciences Po Paris (2000-2007). He is a regular lecturer and conference speaker on EU affairs in various academic and training institutions. His publications to date include a reference book on the European Commission (John Harper Publishing, 2013).